Dr. Li Xiaocui, Deputy Chief Physician of the Family Planning Department of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, introduced:

Oral contraceptives are not carcinogens and instead have a wide range of non-contraceptive health benefits.

Oral contraceptives in fact most women are no strangers to know, but there is no use of it are reluctant to use, or there are concerns, some women are very good he is using, but we clinically found that our Chinese women ah on oral contraceptives or a lot of concerns. In fact, in the United States again well over a decade ago, they are between the age of 18 to 40 years old women, basically are using oral contraceptives to contraception.

The mechanism of action of oral contraceptives is that it inhibits ovulation, blocking the egg from being discharged at the source, and pregnancy can be avoided at all. In addition to increasing the viscosity of the cervical mucus, so that the sperm is difficult to enter the uterine cavity, there is no way to meet with the egg. If the first two steps fail, you can also interfere with the growth of the endometrium, that is, change the environment of the land where the embryo grows, so that the fertilized egg can not settle and develop there. At every level, at every step, the reliability of contraception is increased. The oral contraceptive pill was introduced in the United States in 1960 and has been described as a revolutionary breakthrough in women's independence. Because abortion was initially considered illegal in the West, but it was also very cruel for a young woman to live without independence, the oral contraceptive pill was preferred and needed by a large number of women. Its effectiveness, when used correctly, can be over 99% and pregnancy can be achieved immediately after stopping the pill. In addition to contraception, it can reduce dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer.

In fact, many women do not know much about oral contraceptives and will not recognize that there are so many roles. We often prescribe contraceptive pills to patients in outpatient clinics, in fact, are for non-contraceptive effects, such as the treatment of endometriosis, the treatment of dysmenorrhea and so on. Many people have some misconceptions about oral contraceptives, thinking that it is a kind of hormone, will it lead to body hair, will it lead to cancer, will it never be able to get pregnant and have a baby, all these are wrong. The World Health Organization has clearly pointed out that low-dose oral contraceptives do not affect fertility, and you can get pregnant immediately after stopping the pill, and for some women who are not easy to get pregnant, such as those with polycystic ovaries, stopping oral contraceptives after stopping the pill will help you get pregnant and will not cause birth defects in the fetus after you get pregnant.

Does it cause cancer? In fact, the opposite is true. Oral contraceptives can, on the contrary, reduce the occurrence of endometrial and ovarian cancers, which can reduce the incidence of these two tumors by 50%, and the longer they are taken, the lower the probability of occurrence.However, if it is proven that breast cancer has been detected, we do not recommend oral contraceptives.

Author: Xu Xiaosheng, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

There are three more common types of oral contraceptives: short-acting contraceptives, long-acting contraceptives and emergency contraceptives. And the one that's been generating a lot of buzz lately is theShort-acting oral contraceptives, which are also commonly available on the market today, such as Yosmin, Maflon, Dyne-35, and Mecinol。

Short-acting birth control pills have been shown to reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer in addition to their ability to prevent pregnancy. Recent research from the National Institutes of Health suggests that the benefits of the pill may not stop there. The study suggests that long-term use of the pill reduces the incidence of two types of cancer, ovarian and endometrial, and is independent of whether or not the patient adopts a relatively healthy lifestyle. The study, published in the January 18, 2018, issue of JAMA Oncology, found that women who took birth control pills for more than 10 years had a 40 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer. This benefit was found to be consistent across all populations (including smokers and the obese). And for endometrial cancer, the researchers found that the pill had an even greater benefit for those women who smoked and were obese. The risk of endometrial cancer dropped by 53 percent in women who smoked and took oral contraceptives. The benefits were even greater for obese women, with a 64 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer.

At the same time, however, another article seems to reveal the unknown risks of the pill, a conclusion that has thrown the possibility of continuing to use short-acting oral contraceptives for birth control into the limelight.

A Danish national prospective cohort study published in the December 7, 2017 issue of the New England Journal reported that women who used or had used new hormonal contraceptives had a significantly higher risk of breast cancer compared with those who had never used them previously, with an average of 11,517 breast cancers occurring during 10.9 years of follow-up in 1.8 million women. The overall absolute increase was 13 cases per 100,000 person-years, or about 1 case of breast cancer for every 7,690 women who used hormonal contraceptives for 1 year.

Short-acting pill is the most reliable contraceptive

Most short-acting oral contraceptives contain both progestin and estrogen, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill. Others contain only progestin, such as the monoprogestin pill. It is possible to experience pregnancy-like symptoms after taking a combination oral contraceptive, however, this is not a true pregnancy. Compounded oral contraceptives can temporarily prevent the ovaries from ovulating; at the same time, they can thicken the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. The main contraceptive principle of the monoprogestin pill is to inhibit ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus. However, without the synergistic effect of estrogen, it may lead to an increased incidence of spotting.

Short-acting oral contraceptives are, in normal use, the most reliable of all contraceptive methods available.Short-acting oral contraceptives, except for contraindications, can be used at childbearing age. It is also used by doctors for regulating menstruation, treating dysmenorrhea, and suppressing endometriosis.

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that the short-acting pill is a reversible method of contraception. Fertility is restored after stopping the pill. Pregnancy can occur in the same month after stopping the pill, without having to wait three to six months. There is no increased incidence of birth defects in infants born to women who took the pill before pregnancy. There was also no increase in teratogenicity in women who unintentionally took short-acting contraceptives during early pregnancy.

The debate over the possible increased risk of breast cancer from hormones began in the 1950s-1960s. However, with in-depth research, it was found that estrogen alone does not increase the risk of breast cancer. The culprit for the increase in breast cancer is progesterone, and synthetic progesterone at that, and if one switches to natural or near-natural progesterone, there will be no or very few problems of this type.

Going back to the two articles mentioned above. While it is true that current or recent use of hormonal contraceptives is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who have never used hormonal contraceptives, and that this risk increases with longer duration of use; however, theThe absolute value of the increase in risk is small. And the benefits are substantial compared to its ability to significantly reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers. Therefore, short-acting oral contraceptives should be a good choice of contraceptive method for women of age.

Doctors have six tips for attention

Short-acting oral contraceptives are nearly 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, provided that the pills are taken on time and not missed. If you miss a dose, you should consult your doctor before taking it. If it is difficult to consult a doctor within a short period of time, the following method can be used: in addition to the prescribed dose after a missed dose, an additional tablet should be taken within 24 hours, and in order to avoid unintended pregnancies due to a missed dose of the medication. Other non-hormonal contraceptive measures need to be taken at the same time during the period of missed dose or stopping the pill on one's own.

The first time you use short-acting oral contraceptives, it is recommended that you start taking them on the fifth day of your menstrual cycle and take them for 21 days or every day (please follow your doctor's instructions). If you are using this method of contraception for the first time, you should use other methods of contraception, such as condoms, during the first week of the pill because the pill has not yet taken full effect.

Patients who are breastfeeding, smoking, have recently had deep vein thrombosis, or have a history of breast cancer are at high risk and are prohibited from using it. A history of acute or chronic liver function abnormalities that have not returned to normal on retesting, the presence of benign liver masses or malignant tumors, and a history of migraine with focal neurological symptoms are also contraindications to short-acting oral contraceptives.

Oral short-acting contraceptives, in addition to reducing the incidence of endometrial and ovarian cancers, also regulate the menstrual cycle, treat polycystic ovary syndrome, inhibit endometriosis, and treat menstrual cramps, etc. Please use them after consulting a specialist.

It is recommended to avoid using emergency contraceptive pills for contraception. Emergency contraceptive pills contain high levels of hormones, which can cause disruptions in the menstrual cycle. It is also only 85% effective and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

There is no risk of weight gain with regular use of short-acting oral contraceptives. The short-acting oral contraceptives currently available on the market contain natural or near-natural estrogens and progestins and are used in very low doses, which are largely unproblematic in this regard.

Article source: Health News

There are two types of birth control pills:One type of oral contraceptive is the long-acting oral contraceptive pill and the other is the short-acting oral contraceptive pill. Short-acting oral contraceptives include the emergency contraceptive pill and the combined short-acting oral contraceptive pill.

Here's a wake-up call for everyone:Emergency contraceptives are very unreliable!Taking emergency contraceptive pills can cause menstrual disorders and even ectopic pregnancy!

Specialist, Family Planning Service Center, Changsha Maternal and Child Health HospitalRecommended for everyone: with multiple benefitsCombined short-acting oral contraceptive pill(hereinafter referred to as COC).

COCIt is a compound drug formulated by estrogen and progesterone, which achieves contraception by inhibiting ovulation, changing the environment of the uterine lining, altering the properties of cervical mucus, preventing sperm from penetrating, and resisting implantation, among other mechanisms. The effective rate of contraception is up to99% or more, is a routine form of contraception suitable for healthy women of childbearing age.

COC is not a cancer-causing drug, and it has 10 amazing benefits that most people don't know about!

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Amazing Benefits of COC 1: Regulates Menstruation

Can birth control pills actually be used to adjust your period? Many people's first reaction is disbelief.

There are many adolescent girls who have irregular menstruation. When our endocrinologists give them treatment with birth control pills based on the test results, they react with refusal. What kind of birth control pills are they taking when they don't have sex?

It is not known that short-acting oral contraceptives slowly release estrogen and progesterone, preventing the body from producing these two hormones, thus preventing the ovaries from ovulating for contraceptive purposes, and canRegularizing the menstrual cycleIt also reduces the amount of menstruation that occurs and reduces the number of diseases such asDysmenorrhea, breast painand other premenstrual syndromes.

Short-acting oral contraceptives can be taken with or without sex!

COC's Amazing Benefits 2: Acne Eliminator

COC can be used to treat moderate-to-severe acne (with or without seborrhea) and/or hirsutism due to androgen sensitivity in women of childbearing age, which includes the need to treat these symptoms ofPatients with polycystic ovary syndrome。

It is equally effective for acne that is not amenable to topical or systemic antibiotic treatment! Our short-acting oral contraceptives contain several hormones that turn out to not only regularize menstruation, but also make you white and red like no other!

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Amazing Benefits of COC 3: Effective Weight Control

Many women are concerned about weight gain from taking COCs. Traditional short-acting oral contraceptives do cause women to experience weight gain due to water and sodium retention.

However, clinical evidence exists thatNew short-acting oral contraceptive effective in weight control. This is because the drospirenone ingredient contained therein has anti-salt corticosteroid qualities similar to those of natural progestins, which directly counteracts water and sodium retention and promotes water and sodium elimination.

COC's Amazing Benefit #4: Reduces the Incidence of Associated Tumors

Reducing the risk of endometrial cancer: numerous clinical studies have shown that COC can significantlyReducing the risk of endometrial cancer. This is because a low dose of estrogen prevents the endometrium from over-proliferating, thus reducing its chances of malignancy.

Overseas studies have shown that a new generation of short-acting oral contraceptives in thel-2 years after stopping the drugIt still has the effect of protecting the lining of the uterus. The most used form of contraception for Western women is the pill.

A large number of foreign studies have shown that the long-term use of contraceptive pills is safe, effective, has few side effects and can treat gynecological diseases. In addition, studies have found that contraceptive pillsIt has a preventive effect on ovarian cancerThe incidence of rectal and colon cancer is also reduced in women who use birth control pills.20%-50%。

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Amazing Benefits of COC 5: Treating Endometriosis

endometriosis(Endometriosis) is the appearance, growth, and infiltration of endometrial tissue (glands and mesenchyme) in the coated lining of the uterine cavity and in areas outside the uterus, with recurrent bleeding, followed by pain, infertility, and nodules or masses.

Endometriosis is a frequent and common disease in women of childbearing age. Endometriosis is widespread, morphologically diverse, highly aggressive and recurrent, and characterized by sex hormone dependence.

Oral contraceptive usage:Continuous or cyclic dosing for 6 months and longer may be used for a longer period of time.

Mechanisms of action:Suppression of ovulation.

Amazing Benefits of COC 6: Treats Gynecological Inflammation

COC can be used in a number of waysReduce the occurrence and development of PID。

(1) The progestin component of COC increases and thickens the viscosity of cervical mucus, which is unfavorable to bacterial growth, and the formation of cervical mucus plugs inhibits upstream bacterial infection pathways and reduces the incidence of PID.

(2) Regular use of COCs reduces menstrual flow and the incidence of AUB, thereby reducing the chance of PID.

(3) The use of COCs reduces the incidence of unwanted pregnancies and subsequent termination procedures, which reduces uterine maneuvers to some extent and decreases the chance of PID.

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COC's Amazing Benefit #7: Reduces Endometrial Polyp Recurrence

The prevalence of endometrial polyps has been variously reported as 2.7% to 8.0%, and the reported prevalence has increased with the popularization of hysteroscopic techniques. Its prevalence inAfter 35High prevalence, also in postmenopausal women.

COC is a protective factor for endometrial polyps. In women of childbearing age, conservative treatment of endometrial polyps can be an option with COC use for 3 to 6 months. Combined COC treatment for 3 to 6 months after hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy (TCRP) in women of childbearing age can beReducing recurrence of endometrial polyps。

Amazing Benefits of COC 8: Treats Hirsutism

The principles of treatment for hirsutism are to correct sex hormone imbalances, slow or stop hair growth, and improve quality of life.

COC reduces serum free testosterone levels by increasing SHBG and inhibiting ovarian androgen synthesis for the treatment of hirsutism. Currently, COC has become the first-line drug for the treatment of hirsutism in premenopausal women without pregnancy requirement.

The Amazing Benefits of COC 9: Treating Fibroids

The treatment of uterine fibroids includes conservative and surgical treatments. Conservative treatments are aimed at relieving symptoms, and current medications for uterine fibroids include progestins, COCs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and GnRH-a.

Among the drugs used to treat uterine fibroids, COC has the least adverse effects.COC cannot reduce the size of fibroids, but it can reduce the amount of menstrual flow and regularize the menstrual cycle. Clinical use of COC can temporarily treat fibroid-related bleeding, thereby improving clinical symptoms to some extent.

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Amazing Benefits of COC 10: Protects Fertility

If COC is used consistently and correctly, pregnancy can be avoided while using COC and physiological cycles and fertility can be restored after discontinuing its use.1st menstrual cycle off medicationOvulation can then be resumed and reproductive function restored . Moreover, there is no effect on pregnancy after discontinuation of COC.

Pregnancy during COC use or misuse of COCs during pregnancy does not increase the risk of congenital malformations in the fetus.It does not cause teratogenicity in newborns .Moreover, pregnancy can be achieved after stopping the medication without having to wait for 3 to 6 months.

Also.COC has a protective effect on fertility.Firstly, COC has a reliable contraceptive effect and reduces unwanted pregnancies (intrauterine or ectopic), thus minimizing complications due to abortion and the impact on fertility. Secondly, COC also regulates menstruation and protects women from diseases caused by menstrual disorders.COC also reduces the incidence of pelvic infections and thus protects the function of the fallopian tubes.COC UsersThe risk of ectopic pregnancy is reduced by 99 percent。

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As COC continues to be better known and accepted, it is more commonly known as"Menstruation Tablet," "Hair Remover," "Acne Remover."And so on.

Every medical staff of the Family Planning Technical Service Center of Changsha Maternal and Child Health Hospital sincerely wishes that every female friend who is not ready to welcome the arrival of a new life can use contraception properly, so as to achieve the goal of "I give birth to a child, I am in charge!" Let every flower of life bloom beautifully!

Hunan Medical Chat Contributing Author: Family Planning Technical Service Center, Changsha Maternal and Child Health Hospital

Oral contraceptives are not carcinogens, but on the contrary have the effect of inhibiting cancers such as ovarian cancer.

First, to understand what is an oral contraceptive pill? Birth control pills are hormonal medications that are taken to avoid pregnancy and generally contain estrogen and progestin. Their main effect is to inhibit ovulation, but they can also alter the cervical mucus so that sperm cannot easily pass through, or alter the way the fallopian tubes and uterus move to impede the transport of a fertilized egg.

Oral contraceptives are divided into three categories: short-acting oral contraceptives (e.g., Dayn-35, Maflon, etc.), long-acting oral contraceptives (e.g., compound 18-methylnorethindrone monthly tablets, compound ethinyl estradiol monthly tablets), and emergency contraceptives (e.g., levonorgestrel, mifepristone tablets).

The use of oral contraceptives for contraception has been one of the more common methods used by women of childbearing age around the world since the pill came into use in 1960.

It is generally recognized that short-acting oral contraceptives are the most widely used class of contraceptives in the world, with a success rate close to 100%, safe and reliable. It can be taken continuously for 6-7 years, starting from the 5th day of menstruation, one pill a day for 21 days without interruption, and menstruation will come 2-4 days after stopping the pill. It will not affect future conception and childbirth. If you plan to get pregnant, you can conceive 5-6 months after stopping the pill.

Long-acting contraceptive pills need to be taken on the fifth day of menstruation, and then one tablet every 28 to 30 days thereafter. It is easy to take, but not as effective as the short-acting pill. It should be taken continuously for a maximum of 3 to 4 years.

Emergency contraceptive pills are called morning-after pills and are usually taken within 72 hours of intercourse to avoid unwanted pregnancies, with a contraceptive success rate of about 98%.

Some people think that birth control pills can cause cancer. In fact, this is a misunderstanding, everything has its two sides, we have to look at this issue dialectically, the composition of the pill is estrogen or progestin, especially the new short-acting oral contraceptives not only does not cause cancer but also can prevent ovarian cancer, reduce the risk of cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, a study in 2012 in the United Kingdom, the past ten years of taking the pill, compared to those who did not take the pill, the number of cases of ovarian cancer is reduced, also can inhibit endometrial cancer and colorectal cancer, and can also be used as a means to prevent cancer. A 2012 study in the UK showed that women who took the pill in the last decade had fewer cases of ovarian cancer than those who did not take the pill, and that the pill also inhibited endometrial and colon cancers.

There are also some people who think that since the emergency contraceptive pill is also quite efficient, it's okay not to take contraceptive measures, as long as you take the emergency contraceptive pill afterwards. This is also a wrong understanding, emergency contraceptive pills than the general short-acting oral contraceptives hormone content, if long-term use, easy to lead to menstrual disorders, ovulation disorders, leading to infertility, and even cause amenorrhea or potential risk of cancer. Suggestion: It is best not to take emergency contraceptive pills more than three times a year, and only once a month, not repeatedly.

Therefore, what kind of contraception to take and which contraceptive pill to choose should still be careful, and it is best to listen to the advice of doctors and choose reasonably according to their own health conditions.

The authoritative interpretation of Pharmaceutical Affairs, unauthorized reproduction, plagiarism will be punished.

This problem is mainly caused by the fact that most people do not know enough about the difference between "compound oral contraceptive pills" and "emergency contraceptive pills", which are two completely different contraceptives.

When choosing birth control pills, women should choose "combined oral contraceptive pills", commonly known as short-acting contraceptive pills. As a last resort, do not choose "emergency contraceptive pills". The side effects of birth control pills mainly come from large doses of estrogen analogs. The estrogen content of the "combined oral contraceptive pill" is very low, while the "emergency contraceptive pill" contains a very high dose of estrogen. Low doses of estrogen are actually beneficial in preventing certain gynecological diseases. The so-called high dose "cause disease", small dose "cure".

(Note the estrogen analog content labeling in the black box)

According to the Chinese Expert Consensus on the Clinical Use of Compounded Oral Contraceptives published in 2015, taking compounded oral contraceptives in healthy women reduces the risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancers; it is not a major risk for the development of breast and cervical cancers.

1、Ovarian Cancer

It reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. And the earlier it is used, the lower the risk. Even 30 years after stopping the drug, the risk of occurrence is still lower than for people who don't take it.

2、Endometrial cancer

The longer you use short-acting birth control pills, the stronger the protection against endometrial cancer, which continues years after stopping the pill.

3、Colorectal cancer

Women who used short-acting contraceptives had about a 15 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to women who never used them.

4. Breast cancer

Short-acting contraceptives do not increase or slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. For women with a family history of breast cancer, short-acting contraceptives can also be used reasonably according to the relevant WHO standards, but regular follow-up is required.

5. Cervical cancer

Short-acting birth control pills increase the risk of cervical cancer, but are not a major risk factor; human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most important cause of cervical cancer development. Because there is no physical barrier, it increases the likelihood that a woman will become infected with HPV. The short-acting pill has no effect on women who are not infected with HPV.

At present, the main varieties of "compound oral contraceptives" circulating in the market are: Yosmin, Maflon, Daying-35 and so on.

Welcome to Wukong Q&A, I am pediatric pharmacist Mei II Kang, focusing on children's medication safety science for many years, I have my own unique point of view on the interpretation of drugs and parenting. This conclusion in the question is too arbitrary and is grossly exaggerating the side effects of oral contraceptives. Let me talk about this topic of the safety of long-term use of oral contraceptives.

There are two types of oral contraceptives commonly used by women, emergency contraceptives with a single progestin component and combination contraceptives that contain both progestin and estrogen. Below I will share with women the progress of research on the correlation between these two types of oral contraceptives and cancer.

1. Opinion of the Expert Group on the Chinese Consensus on the Clinical Use of Compounded Oral Contraceptives

The conclusions of the expert group on the relationship between combined oral contraceptives and malignant tumors are as follows: the use of combined oral contraceptives by healthy women reduces the risk of ovarian epithelial cancer (ovarian cancer), endometrial cancer and colorectal cancer; combined oral contraceptives do not increase or slightly increase the risk of breast cancer; and they may increase the risk of cervical cancer but are not a major risk factor for cervical cancer. This is currently the more authoritative view in China.

2. Observations of the International Collaborative Group on Emergency Contraception Guidelines for Drug Delivery and Services

The Expert Group currently believes that the emergency contraceptive pill can be safely used for women in all circumstances. Emergency contraception can still be used in situations where there are recognized contraindications to conventional oral contraceptives. In particular, it is important to note that the following conditions are not contraindications to the use of emergency contraception: underage, obesity, personal or family history of venous thrombosis, previous or current breast cancer, previous ectopic pregnancy, breastfeeding, migraines, cardiovascular disease, hepatic disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and so on. Since, it can be used by breast cancer patients, it indirectly means that emergency contraceptive pills do not cause breast cancer.

Therefore, the notion in the question can cause panic among the female population. In fact, the benefits of oral contraceptives far outweigh their risks when used appropriately.

References: 1. Chinese Expert Consensus on the Clinical Use of Compounded Oral Contraceptives. 2. International Collaborative Group on Emergency Contraception (ICCGEC) Guidelines for Drug Delivery and Services. 3.

No, it's not. Instead, it canlowerThe absolute risk of developing malignant tumors in women has clearly decreased for ovarian, endometrial and colorectal cancers.

In addition to this, oral contraceptives have many benefits beyond contraception:

1.Effectively regulates the menstrual cycle and protects the uterine lining

2.Relief of premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps

3.Effective treatment for acne and thick body hair

Oral contraceptives are short-acting agents that are quickly metabolized by the body. Therefore, pregnancy can occur in the second month after discontinuing oral contraceptives.

Oral contraceptives themselves do not pose a risk of fetal abnormality, and even if they are inadvertently taken during early pregnancy, there is no increased risk of fetal abnormality.

Contraception is an unavoidable blush in adult relationships. For those who do not want to have children and do not want a barrier to intimacy, a quick and worry-free option is the oral contraceptive pill.

Do oral contraceptives cause or prevent cancer? What should I do about contraception?

The contraceptive principle of the pill

Birth control pills are medications that generally contain estrogen or progesterone, mainly by inhibiting ovulation and altering the cervical mucus so that sperm cannot easily penetrate, or by causing the uterine glands to reduce the production of heparanose so that blastocysts are less likely to survive, or by altering the way in which the uterus and fallopian tubes move so as to impede the transport of a fertilized egg, and ultimately preventing the sperm from combining to form a fertilized ovum.

WHO: Birth control pills are class 1 carcinogens

The oral contraceptive pill is listed as a group 1 carcinogen on the list of carcinogens published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, it is an unusual presence because evidence shows that it both causes and prevents cancer.

Do oral contraceptives cause or prevent cancer? What should I do about contraception?

Do birth control pills cause or prevent cancer?

One of those studying breast cancer, analyzing data from more than 150,000 women, showed that overall, women who had ever used oral contraceptives had a slightly increased relative risk of breast cancer (7%) compared to women who had never used oral contraceptives. Women who were using oral contraceptives had a 24% increased risk, but the risk did not increase with duration of use. The risk decreased after discontinuing use, and there was no significant increase in risk after 10 years of discontinuing use.

And people who study cervical cancer have found that women who use oral contraceptives for five or more years have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer than women who have never used oral contraceptives. The longer a woman uses oral contraceptives, the higher her risk of cervical cancer. The risk increases by 10% with less than 5 years of use, 60% with 5-9 years of use, and doubles with 10 or more years of use. However, the risk of cervical cancer decreases over time after a woman stops using oral contraceptives.

A combination of observations from several studies found that women who use oral contraceptives have an increased risk of breast and cervical cancer, although the chances of endometrial, colorectal and ovarian cancers are reduced.

Do oral contraceptives cause or prevent cancer? What should I do about contraception?

How do oral contraceptives affect cancer risk?

Birth control pills contain high levels of estrogen and progesterone, which can stimulate the development and growth of some cancers. Oral contraceptives may increase the risk of cervical cancer by altering the susceptibility of cervical cells to persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV.

However, some studies have found that oral contraceptives can inhibit the proliferation of endometrial cells, which can reduce the number of ovulations and lower the level of bile acids in women's blood, and this can effectively reduce the incidence of endometrial, ovarian and rectal cancer.

There are many other forms of contraception

After analyzing the pros and cons of birth control pills, many people are still torn between taking oral contraceptives for birth control, so they may want to learn about other forms of birth control, such as placing a birth control ring inside the body, subcutaneous placement of contraceptive injections, and using condoms.